Cooperative-electrode driving technique for droplet-velocity improvement of digital microfluidic systems

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation is provided. The method includes, a first pulse is provided to a first electrode for kicking off a droplet till a centroid of the droplet reaching a centroid of the first electrode. A second pulse is provided to a second electrode when a leading edge of the droplet reaching the second electrode.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation, comprising:
 providing a first pulse to a first electrode for kicking off a droplet; 
 providing a second pulse to a second electrode when a leading edge of the droplet reaches the second electrode; and 
 removing the first pulse when a centroid of the droplet reaches a centroid of the first electrode, 
 wherein the first pulse and the second pulse are provided to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively, at the same time during a period between the leading edge of the droplet reaching the second electrode and the centroid of the droplet reaching a centroid of the first electrode. 
 
     
     
       2. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are coplanar. 
     
     
       3. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode and second electrode are located in an electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) device. 
     
     
       4. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 2 , wherein the EWOD device comprises:
 a first plate; 
 a second plate facing the first plate; and 
 the droplet in between the first plate and the second plate; 
 wherein the first electrode and a second electrode are on the second plate. 
 
     
     
       5. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 3 , wherein the EWOD device further comprises a gap between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the gap in the range of 1 μm to 1000 μm. 
     
     
       6. A control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation, comprising:
 providing a first voltage to a first electrode for kicking off a droplet; 
 providing a second voltage to a second electrode when a leading edge of the droplet reaches the second electrode; and 
 removing the first voltage when a centroid of the droplet reaches a centroid of the first electrode, 
 wherein the first voltage and the second voltage are provided to the first electrode and the second electrode, respectively, at the same time during a period between the leading edge of the droplet reaching the second electrode and the centroid of the droplet reaching a centroid of the first electrode. 
 
     
     
       7. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 6 , wherein the first voltage and the second voltage have the same mathematical value. 
     
     
       8. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 6 , wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are coplanar. 
     
     
       9. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 6 , wherein the first electrode and second electrode are located in an electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) device. 
     
     
       10. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 9 , wherein the EWOD device comprises:
 a first plate; 
 a second plate facing the first plate; and 
 the droplet in between the first plate and the second plate; 
 wherein the first electrode and a second electrode are on the second plate. 
 
     
     
       11. The control-engaged electrode-driving method for droplet actuation of  claim 6 , wherein the EWOD device further comprises a gap between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the gap in the range of 1 μm to 1000 μm.